The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-06-01

From the Baltimore SUM
The Rev. William T. Slocum, OF tn,
First Congregational Church, returned
ON Saturday night from an extended triI
of several weeks duration into tho
Southern States, whore he was engaged
IN investigating the conditions of luc0
ton, particularly colorcd schools
Among tho places visited were CIwrlcs
ton, Savannah, jacksonville, Fla, New
Orleans, Jackson, Miss, and Talladcna
Ala. Besides visiting tho public schools
from lowest to highest grade, and tho
various colleges, an interview was had
with the Governor Of Mississippi, va ious
city authorities, Statc education com.
missioncrs and others. NTr. Slooum
said: 81 found oyery where q strong feel.
ing that the colorcd people must i, ed.
ucated. The New South las no d,ubts
on this question. InmosC eases primary
education OF colorcd people isconductcd
by the State, Georgia and Mississippi
particularly granting large sums; but
I'll
hsh branches is usually afforded by tic
church schools supported by plilan-
thropic contributions. The work of
these schools is Of greatest importance
for training colorcd teachers OF high
character. IL is Il striking fact thpt re.
ligion, as taught by tho ordinary co!Jrcd
preacher in the South, is not clevating
the moral tone Of tho colorcd race. Of
course there arc striking exceptions, Int
the improved moral tone OF tho race
comes through the training in t.psc
higher church schools and colleges. |
found prevailing sentiment every w.icru
that industrial education must be pgSh-
cd. This amounts to Il decided move
mcnt and some OF the colleges do first
rate work. Another striking fact that
shows improved moral conditions is that
the color line is growing moro distinct;
that Is, there are more black children
and fewer mulnttOCs, which indicates n
healthier separation of whites and blacks
No one who has not stood face to face
with tho tremendous problem in the
South can rightly appreciate its many
difficulties, and yet there are clcmcuts OF
hope, strong nope, and the oulloc. is
not wholly diScoura9ing.
SIN Charleston the MoYns s'yaoi
school is the best for colorcd chI1yru,
and contains about 800 pup.is.N Us
principal, Mr.. \. Doty, an clcgmt
Southern gentleman, was an officer il!
the South Carolina army. 1t is sig
niticant fact that it was he WHO loaded
the first gun that fired upon the Slip
advancing to the aid OF Fort Sumtur in
1861 The school is prcvadcd with thc
spirit of military discipline, aad the
utmost ncatncys of dress is required.
There are - teachers, but only primary
branches are taught
"In Suvanuah colorCd teacher. arc
employed in the co!oycd schools, -. is
usually the case throughout tho SuutL
except in Charleston. Here, rs oy,ry.
where else, the sentiment that the colured
people must he educated prevails.
"In Florida not so much has Eccn
done as elsewhere. The colorcd popuiu-
ton is not so great there as in some Of
the other States, 1t is significant that
tho new college for whites, the Winter
Park College, ut Winter Park. Fla,
though only two years old, las taken IA
very high stand among Southern cduca-
tional Institutions.
"In New Orleans the educational
movement for both races is strong, and
it is spreading into the counties OF the
State III an excellent system If county
free schools The Straight University,
in New Orleans, is the best institution
for the training OF coorcd students in
the more advanced branches. 1t has 800
in attendance, and supplies numerous
teachers to the country schools through
out the South. Eighty per cent. Of the
graduates become teachers. The uniycr-
sity has white teachers, and includes n
law and theological department. It's
funds come largely from the American
Missionary Association, and it is doing
work of great value. Some OF tie ne.
groes about New Orleans are becoming
quite wealthy as plantation owners, ana
one owns largo interest III one oil the
railroads that runs into the city.
"AIississippi appropriates 81, 900, 600
annually for educational purposes, and
the amount is divided per capita among
+ the white a'l1 the black schools. The
Governor { the State is a man Of adj
mirablc shrcwdncss, who believes thor
oughlS that the safety Of the country
depends upon the education OF the col.
ored people 'We feel very kindly to-
ward the colorcd people, said the Gov.
ernor, and added rather significantly, /
believe that the capacities of the colorcd
race have been undcrIutcd.' The best
school for the education Of cOlorud stu.
dents in Mississippi is at Tou8aoo. near
jackson 10 is upon large plantation
of 500 acres, has 200 students, rnd is
upon The industrial plan. it has the
active support OF the State, from which
it receives 5000 year. MI Of the
boys work on the farm for one hour each
day, which has two valuable results
First, it teaches them how to care fol
stock, &c., and second, how to improve
wornout lands, necessary process in
the agricultural development OF the
South. Blacksmithing, carpentry and
timing are taught. a student, if lie
chooses, may become a regular appren
tice. A most interesting experiment is
being tried by .hc president Of the col
lege at Tougaloo. He purchased n tract
of 1000 acres of land, which lie divided
into tracts of % and 30 acres, and is sell
ing to colored families. 1t is found tha